Melastoma affine Blue Tongue

Melastoma affine Blue Tongue is a bold, bushy rainforest shrub that flowers on and off throughout the year, especially during the warmer months, followed by tasty bush tucker berries. Native to Australian rainforest regions, this fast-growing shrub produces striking mauve flowers for most of the year, with peak flowering in spring. The blooms are followed by edible fruit with deeply coloured purple flesh. The berries stain the mouth blue — giving the plant its common name “Blue Tongue” — and are great fun for kids. Blue Tongue is ideal for small hedges, large pots, and feature planting in tropical or subtropical garden styles. Tip-prune regularly while the plant is young to encourage dense growth and more flowering. Reapply mulch and feed with a slow-release fertiliser in spring to keep plants healthy and productive.

Soil: Well-drained soil.
Conditions: Full sun. Sensitive to dry conditions and frost.
Size: Height 1.8m x width 1-2m